Omaha daily bee., 1887-06-12
A SOUTHERNER'S OPINION.
Representative Oates Of Alabama Talks
About Presidential Possibilities.
DISTRIBUTING PUTLlc PAPERS.
The Manner OF Their Circulation of
No Benefit to the Peoplc-Thc
Beauties OF Red Tape
National News.
Presidential Points.


Of the most able men in the south, neither
Blaine nor Sherman will be the presidential
nominee. He says: These two men are
pretty equally balanced in power. They are
the two strongest men in the republican
party, because they are the ablest. l think
neither of them will be nominated, because
it hardly ever occurs that party nomlnates
its ablest man. and when they do nominate
him, IL is only to have him defeated. Henry
Clay could never have been elected. lie was
always beaten by much smaller men. Great
men antagonize too many people and too
many interests. They have too much of a
record. That was Blaine's weakness. He
had too much record, and Cleveland's great
strength was that he had very little record,
and consequently very little to cause antag-
onism. Allison, think, Is the man most
likely to get the republican nomination. He
hasn't too much record. Cleveland, have
no doubt, will be the democratic candidate.
Notwithstanding some little disappoint-
ments, l believe that every southern state
Will send its delegation to the national con-
tion pledged for Cleveland"
Distributions OF Public Documents.
WASHINGTON, June 10.-lSpeclal to the
BEE. Just at this season Of the year the
dealers In government publications are In
the habit Of replenishlng their stocks. so as
to be prepared to meet the demands which
always follow the election OF a new con-
gress. There are q great many features
about this operation which would scarcely
bear close Investigation. The distribution
of public documents Is carried on in the most
hap-hazard and slipshod manner Imaginable.
There is absolutely no system at all about
the distribution, except that each and every
senator and representative is allotted so
many copies of each publication. AS Natural
result the member from Boston, New York
or Philadelphia who has not single farmer
among his constituency, finds that he has
about 800 agricultural reports assigned to his
credit for which he has no possible use, while
the member from the rural districts has not
half enough to 20 around his district. He will
have however full quota OF documents rela
ting to the scientific explorations carried on
knows very we'll that the people who depend
upon him for their literature are in no man.
ner Interested in these works. Occasionally
there is an exchange effected between mem.
Ia this case Is the dealer in public documents.
But it more often happens that the member
has not the time or the inclination to root
around among his associates for the one who
ssS ss Il the Hpna Il bs for p. wnsa
between the adjournment Of one congress
and the assembly OF another that the harvest
is gathered. There are many men who find
not averse to perquisites. These men con
slider il legitimate act to dispose of their
books for cash and not few OF them do SO
constantly, year after year: The clerks
could tell some interesting stories of
so, but it is for their interest to keep quiet,
as many Of them add quite q little to their
ings in this class of .plunder. Within the
next month the annual report of the depart
ment of as' iculture will be ready for deliv-
cry. Each ember Of the lower house Is en-
| titled to abb ut go copies OF this work. An
order for quota can be secured at the pres
ent time for little less than S45. The
books are not yet issued. AS the time for
their publication approaches they will in.
cents a volume This Is about the maximum
| limit for wholesale lots. The purchasers dis
pose of them to members from agricultural
| districts at about ten cents volume. Mem
| their constituents consider that few hun
| dred dollars expended in this matter is about
the best possible way OF Investing campaign
funds. II Is natural, therefore, that the re,
always command ready. mar ket. Next to
| these reports those issued by the bureau of
ethnology are the most valuable from COM
me1cial standpoint They are eagerly sought o,,;d
ssSse.y s%es'' sRo.s S% whose the assss s'!ss
scientific or educational institutions
abound. Reports Of the bureau, Of
1 ethnology command about $S or S. q volume
| the most valuable OF course. The Rebellion
| records are also readily salable. The first
three or four volumes. which are very scarce
bring from two TO four dollars each from
latest issues. bound in cloth, are worth only
| about 25 cents each.
When a congressman dies during his term
his successor often finds that he has very lit
has not left instructions to have all the pub
| licatiOns to bis credit distributed among his
constituents it will very likely be found thai
some employe of the house has obtained al
| order for all that are left and long before the
successor of the deceased takes his seat the
| secondhand dealer will have secured his en-
tire quota. This practice has been carried sc
far that attention has besn attracted to \
| of practice which has grown to be public
| scandal.
Tho Trials or Correspondents.
WASHINGTON, June IL. - Especial t
the BEE. mo one who has not beer
connected with the newspaper offices
In Washington can have any idea Of the alb
surd requests which some people will maxi
of the correspondents. Hundreds of peopl,
| who are in possession of o fact Of more O
less importance to themselves think the!
have important news which the country 4
Just suffering to hear. These people invaria
bly, rush TO Newspaper row" or to the ofiic
OF the press associations and they seem 4
feel a:grieved II the correspondents do no
at once seize upon the item and send 1t broad
cast through the country. Last week tn
secretary of the Haytlen legation was sur
that he had someting which the public OF II,
United States would pore over and ponder
lie fastened to the office of the New York as
ciated press. Mr.. Charles A. BOynton, VIII,
takes care of the western end of this institu
tiOu, was in charge of the Office that night
The diplomat carried package OF papers
foot thick under his arm. ~ have c0me," h
said, ITO the office of the associated press I
bring the official report of the Inauguration
OF President SOOman who has just entere
upon new septenate Here Is his inaugl
raj address and the program Of the inaugura
ceremonies. 1t is In French, and as I ha
no time to translate it, ! suppose tina
you, sir, have assistants who can translat
the French tongue ey' "Oh, yes" replied Nj
Boynton, 1--WE have four or five men her
WHO do nothing else that's their business,
The secretary was delighted, ana bowin
prOfuseiy he left the Office In ten minute
he was back again. lie said that he had di!
| cOvorad nm his yotuyn In the lauafion that th